Here’s some solid evidence that Toyota’s Scion brand sure knows it’s market: The 2010 version of the quite popular xB is getting a new and better audio system, and the prices for the car aren’t going up a cent. The 2010 xB which is exactly the same vehicle as the 2009, apart from the all-new, and standard 160-watt Pioneer audio system, and the car’s base price that remains at $15,750 (MSRP) when equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, and $16,700 for the four-speed automatic with sequential shifting.

The Scion brand was aimed at and sells 90% of its products to the young, import tuner oriented crowd. And as far as I’ve been able to notice, that’s a crowd that doesn’t have that much money (initially) and they ALWAYS have big stereos in their rides. As a matter of fact, I’d put down “putting a big stereo in” as number three on their list, right after installing a loud exhaust and slapping on some new wheels and tires. So for Scion to keep the price the same (read low), yet include a big stereo as standard equipment is pretty much the marketing equivalent of a dead on bull’s-eye. (And yet American car companies don’t get why their products ain’t flying off the shelves).

In other xB news, one of the more popular color options (or at least the one I see around a lot) Blackberry Crush Metallic, is gone, but in its place a new color, Sizzling Crimson Mica, replaces it. Also new for 2010 will be an optional Alpine Premium audio unit that’s navigation and back-up camera ready.